What's Your Vision for this Year: Setting Goals and Dreams

Hey there! Long time, no see! The past week and a half have been crazy busy with us finally moving into our new home (woohoo!), unpacking, and of course getting some pool time in before the summer ends. I know,  summer just started but I have been summer deprived for the past 6 years so I don't want to miss a single day! My translucent son who has lived his whole life in rainy England is still not used to the sun...he is not a fan. He would rather go out when it is raining. It feels like home to him I guess :) 

I have not sat down and devoted a stretch of time to my daily reading a praying during this time but I have been talking to God a lot. Much of it has been thanking Him for blessing me so much with a family who is willing to help us out, a great job for my husband, a flexible son, and so much more! 

At the start of the year my church family put together a vision board with goals we set and how we envision our life for the next year (or few). The visions consisted of emotional, physical, financial, spiritual, educational, personal, and anything other type of goal you can think of. A few months ago our board got packed up in a crate not be seen until this week. My husband and I looked at it and we noticed that we were pretty close to accomplishing all that we had posted. Here is a picture of our unfinished family board. We only had a short amount of time to complete them and had never returned to finish it. 

Here is a list of some of our goals and visions:

• Homebuyers: Check!
• Jaxon sleeping through the night in his own bed: Check!
• Have an idea for another book: Check!
• Create a budget and stick to it: Mostly Check! :)
• To not be addicted to soda: Check! And this was not fun. It took almost 2 weeks for the headaches to go away!
• To find my quite in our new home: Check! I am sitting here as I type.
• To learn sign languageThe college 3/4 mile down the road offers this program.
• More family time: Check! My husband's new job allows for much more family time that his previous ones.

There is a weightloss and running goal for me and I am well on my way to completing those. Other things include potty training Jaxon (we were there but since we moved again he has regressed), a couple goals for my husband, and other ones that will not happen this year but by faith...it will be completed next year!

Even though the year is about halfway over it is not too late to create your vision board. It can simply be on a piece of notebook paper with notes or you can go all out and use a poster board and pictures. Nothing is too big or too small for God. Do not be embarrassed about your goals or visions. If there is something you want for your life let God know and then work for it! Once my husband and I put our goals on paper it set off something inside of us. We are actively working to achieve them. Writing them down puts you in a mindset that it will happen. 

God wants us to be happy and wants us to have joy. He can put desires in our heart. The more we seek Him the more joy we will find. The more we seek Him the more those desires in our hearts become reality. Psalm 37:4 says, "Take delight in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart." That sounds pretty good right? But let's read on... v. 5-6 "Commit your way to the Lord; trust in Him and He will do this; He will make your righteous reward shine like the dawn, your vindication like the noonday sun.'

In order for us to receive the desires of our heart we need to trust and follow the Lord. So, follow these steps to "make you dreams come true!" 

1. Pray that God will put desires in your heart that follow His will for your life.

2. Create a vision board with your social, financial, spiritual, physical, emotional, etc. goals       and visions for yourself.

3. Pray over them. Ask for God to give you direction on how to accomplish them. 

4. Seek the Lord. Spend time with Him, read his word. 

It is never too late to dream! 

Have you ever created a vision board? I would love to hear what your goals and visions are!

Christian Songs for Running!

(Photo curtesy of the lovely Jessica Valencia at https://www.facebook.com/jessica.c.bonet?fref=ts, pictured here)

Alright, you asked for it…my favorite workout songs! It can be hard to find good music to workout to these days. You hear a song on the radio that seems pretty upbeat and catchy with a good pace, you are humming along to it and BAM! Here comes the lines about drinking, affairs, degrading women, and words you would rather not have stuck in your heard. I used to make the excuse that I wasn't really listening to the words just the music but then I began asking myself, "What if Jesus was running with me, would I suggest this song to Him because it has good music, but be sure to not pay any attention to the words..." If you have the same problem I used to have then look no further! I have compiled 10 of my favorite Christian songs to run to. This way if they get stuck in your head, no problem! They are all clean and have a good message. Check ‘em out! It is a pretty crazy mix so be ready!

Jake Hamilton: Never Let Me Down Good for a hard stretch, hill workout, or tempo runs. The beat stays the same but the intensity changes throughout the song. When it grows…take off and run your hardest, attack that hill! Good for a jog and stride workout at the track.

https://geo.itunes.apple.com/us/album/never-let-me-down/id794549910?i=794550043&uo=6&at=1010l3Q3

I am They: From the Day  You cant help but smile while this song plays. I find myself almost dancing with each step I take. It is definitely a good upbeat song for when you are tired.

https://geo.itunes.apple.com/us/album/from-the-day/id957959383?i=957959395&uo=6&at=1010l3Q3

Group 1 Crew: Dangerous A fun song to sing with a good pace!

 https://geo.itunes.apple.com/us/album/dangerous/id556485152?i=556485158&uo=6&at=1010l3Q3

Shawn McDonald: Rise  This song has a calming effect on me. My breath slows down and my mind seem to shift from 'Am I almost done?' to simply taking in the scenery around me and enjoying the run.

https://geo.itunes.apple.com/us/album/rise/id721221930?i=721222819&uo=6&at=1010l3Q3

DA' T.R.U.T.H.: Impossible  God can do the impossible...like gittin me through this final mile!

https://geo.itunes.apple.com/us/album/impossible-feat.-pastor-ad3/id463013378?i=463013403&uo=6&at=1010l3Q3

The City Harmonic: Manifesto Because we could all benefit from saying the Lord's prayer while working out right?

https://geo.itunes.apple.com/us/album/manifesto/id571971353?i=571971826&uo=6&at=1010l3Q3

Group 1 Crew: Keys to the Kingdom This fast paced song keeps your mind off of how you are feeling and has you focused on the lyrics. I suggest purchasing this song for the message alone!

https://geo.itunes.apple.com/us/album/keys-to-the-kingdom/id290067125?i=290067198&uo=6&at=1010l3Q3

7eventh Time Down: Wait For You Ok, Sometimes you just need a little bit of rock to get you pumped up and make you feel tough. Rock normally is not my thing, I am more of the cartoon theme song type person, but this is one that I will for sure be playing during my workout.

https://geo.itunes.apple.com/us/album/wait-for-you/id929215096?i=929215152&uo=6&at=1010l3Q3

Jenny Simmons: Time to Be Well This is another one of those light and airy songs that just make running enjoyable, even with sweat running down your face.

https://geo.itunes.apple.com/us/album/time-to-be-well/id899622869?i=899625297&uo=6&at=1010l3Q3

Moriah Peters: Brave The message itself is enough to keep me going!

https://geo.itunes.apple.com/us/album/brave/id896797026?uo=6&at=1010l3Q3

There you have it. Ten of my go-to songs for when I run. What did you think? Was there one you have never heard before? Are one of them on your list?

I would love to hear what songs you listen to!

What Love Sees: How God Truly Sees Us

Hey Everyone! Let's show some love to our sister-in-Christ, Elizabeth Spencer! She is the writer for two blogs, Guilty Chocoholic Mama, and Sweet For Your Soul. Her post today displays how God truly sees us. He sees our potential because He created us. Even if we don't see ourselves as strong, beautiful, and caring, He does. Read, enjoy and be blessed! Click on her blog names and check out more of her articles. And for a little bribery...both blogs have yummy recipes you can snag!

What Love Sees (Sticky Notes From God)

My daughter Anna gave me a handmade card on my birthday. She’d printed “Names of Mom” vertically down one side of a standard-sized piece of heavyweight paper. The rest of the page was covered with rows of sticky notes labeled with “names” like chauffer, cleaner, and problem-fixer. Under each note, she’d written a definition of the name—“you clean whatever needs to be cleaned whenever it needs to be cleaned,” and so on.

I was overwhelmed.

Not only because of the time, creativity, and effort my sweet 11-year-old had put into her project, but because I felt I hadn't actually earned some of the names. Anna credited me with being an inspiration, motivator, comforter, and example of Christ.  Yet I knew I had so often fallen short. I knew I had not lived up to my names. I knew I needed to work harder to earn the titles she had generously bestowed on me.

But then I realized a graceful truth: Anna’s card reflects what her love for me sees.

And this is how God sees me, too. 

As moms, we wear many titles: cook, counselor, teacher, nurse, and on and on. But we also label ourselves more harshly: mean, impatient, insufficient, mediocre, unremarkable.

As I treasured Anna’s gift, I thought about how God—El Roi, or “The One Who Sees”—looks at mothers. In love, God sees us and posts these sticky notes about us in His Word…

Valuable ~ “A wife of noble character who can find? She is worth far more than rubies” (Proverbs 31:10). The original Hebrew word translated “noble” in this passage is the same word used to describe Gideon as a “mighty warrior” (Judges 6:24)! Some versions of the Bible refer to Gideon as "a man of valor" and to the Proverbs 31 woman as "a woman of valor." My interpretation of all this ("The Momsage" paraphrase instead of The Message)? Brave, valiant moms who fight for their families are rare and precious!

Cared-For ~ “The Sovereign Lord…tends His flock like a shepherd; He gathers the lambs in His arms and carries them close to His heart; He gently leads those that have young”  (Isaiah 40:11). Beloved mom, you are one of “those that have young,” tenderly looked after by the Shepherd.

Honorable ~ “Honor your father and your mother, as the Lord your God has commanded you, so that you may live long and that is may go well with you” (Deuteronomy 5:16).God so esteems mothers that He attaches a bonus promise to His command to honor them.

Wise ~ “Listen, my son…do not forsake your mother’s teaching” (Proverbs 1:8). As moms, we're often so aware of what we don’t know that we lose sight of the God-assigned value of what we do know.

Uniquely Appointed ~ “You created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb” (Psalm 139:13). Our infinitely powerful and creative God could have chosen to bring new human life into existence any way He wanted. He decided to use mothers.

After Anna gave me her card, I immediately added it to my mental list of “Things to Rescue if the House Ever Catches on Fire.” Anna’s gift both humbles and inspires me because it paints a lavishly loving picture how my daughter sees me.  And it reminds me that this is how Abba sees me—and all moms: through eyes of love. “I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with loving-kindness” (Jeremiah 31:3).

For more from Elizabeth, visit Sweet For Your Soul and Guilty Chocoholic Mama. Also, stop by her Facebook pages:

https://www.facebook.com/sweetforyoursoul?fref=nf

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Guilty-Chocoholic-Mama/810394175681562

Take the Bible Reading Challenge!

GENESIS IN 15 days!!!

Take the challenge with me!

Do you need a little nudge to read your Bible everyday? Perhaps a little extra encouragement? I will be hosting accountability groups to read through the books of the bible. The first challenge will take a look at Genesis. When you take this challenge you will be part of an accountability group where you can share questions, struggles, and encouragement. I will also give you tools and resources to really understand Genesis. 

When will it start?

Well...That is undecided right now. It will be mid-late June. We are about to close on our new home (YAY...no more temporary lodging) and things will be a bit crazy with the move. I want to make sure I am totally dedicated when the challenge starts. Keep an eye out for a start date!

What will I have to do?

You won't have to do anything but read your bible. However, I will provide some studies and journaling techniques you can use. And interaction in the group is always welcomed and encouraged!

How often will I have to read?

The plan we will follow is a 5 day plan, that way you have 2 days you can continue with your own studies, get caught up, or of course, read ahead!

How long will I have to read?

Reading time will differ daily, anywhere from 10-20 minutes. You can read while cooking dinner, listen to it on your commute, read when you lay down at night, or...wake up 10 minutes early. C'mon..it's only 10 minutes!

Please pray and consider joining me in this challenge. I know you will be blessed by it! After the Genesis challenge we will have another book of the Bible challenge.

I am so excited and I can't wait!

Be sure to subscribe to get updates and posts straight to your email so you don't miss the latest info on the challenge. Use the 'Follow Me By Email' on the left-hand side of my page to sign up.  :)

Are you ready for the challenge...let me know and leave a comment. Please share your questions by comments or send me an email!

Finding Your Quiet Place: The Who, What, When, Where, Why and How.

(My current quiet place in our hotel room. Notice the blow up mattress against the wall :)

Ok, I know…my current quiet place is not glamorous but it is the best I can do right now. We recently moved to our new duty station and until we can move in our new home we are staying in an extended stay hotel. My options are this chair, the shower, or the bed which doubles as my son’s play area.  And since I can’t bring my Bible in the shower…the chair it is.

So let’s take a look at the Who, What, When, Where, Why, and How of a quiet place.

Who...needs a quiet place and quiet time? Everyone! Even Jesus went to his quiet place in the garden before his crucifixion. It says in Matthew 14:23 that after Jesus calmed the storm, He went up on the mountainside by himself to pray.

What…is a quiet place? An area where you purposefully go to to spend time with the Lord, to read His word, to hear what He has to say, to talk to Him, to spend time in solitude. To make the most of your time, try to have your quiet place prepped before you go. That way you can avoid excuses to not go.

When…should you go to your quiet place? Daily! There are multiple scriptures that mention to have quiet time in the morning, when you rise. In 1 Samuel 1:19 it says, “They rose early in the morning and worshipped before the Lord.” Mark 1:35 states, “Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed.” I have spent so many mornings arguing with myself why I don’t have time in the morning and that I would have my time in the evening after my son goes so sleep or during nap time. Well, that hardly ever works out. I make excuses then. Just do it in the morning and I promise, if you fill up with God in the morning you will be fully charged, ready to go for the whole day!

Where… should by quiet place be? A quiet place doesn’t have to be a garden or hilltop. It is simply a designated place where you can focus, distraction free, on the word of God and prayer. You make it a purpose to go to your quiet spot. It can be a breakfast table after the morning chaos is gone, a corner of your house with an oversized pillow, a picnic table in the sun, anything! As long as you can focus on God, it can be your quiet place.

Why… is it important to find your own quiet place? We go to our quiet place for a purpose. If you go into the bathroom you know you are going for a minimal number things. You are not going to make dinner, take a nap, or watch tv. Same goes for your quiet place. You go to your quiet place with a task in mind. It helps to detour you from distractions and helps you get the job done. "But when you pray, go into your room, close the door, and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is gone in secret will reward you." Matthew 6:6

Do You Believe In A Perfect God?

Has something ever not gone your way? Did things turn out for the worse instead of for the better? Did you try your best, your very best, only to get turned down? What did you think afterwards? Keep those thoughts in mind as we take a look at Eli...

Eli was a priest, a man of God. His sons, however, are described in 1 Samuel 2 as wicked. They “were scoundrels; they had no regard for the Lord.” V12. Whoah…To be referred to as a scoundrel in the word of the Lord…Whoah! Eli had lived his life honoring God but his sons did not. In conjunction with their disregard for the Lord they were guilty of blaspheme. You can read for yourself here in 1 Samuel 2 all of their scoundrel deeds (it gets pretty juicy).

At this point you would think poor Eli right? He lived a life according to the law but his sons are not turning to the Lord. Does this sound familiar to anyone. So many parents drag their children to church throughout their childhood but once they leave the nest they have nothing to do with the church ever again.

Where we would read and think poor Eli, the Lord was not thinking the same thing. Not at all! A reoccurring theme all throughout Deuteronomy is to teach your children the way of the Lord, to teach them when we sit at home, when walking outside, when we go to bed, and when we rise. We need to be praying for our children constantly. It is part of our job as a parent, no matter our profession, even if you are a priest. God was not happy.

Must Read of 2015

So good even my toddler wants to read!

So here it is...Drumroll please.....The first ever (for me) must read of the year! I read Unstoppable at the start of this year and let me tell ya, life changer! We have all read Hebrews 12:1-2 right? "Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with endurance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith."

These verses have been my life motto since high school. I was a runner, and still run from time to time when I get the urge, from 5th grade through my freshman year of college until I blew my ankle.  I relate to running; it speaks to me. In a later post I will break these 2 verses down phrase and by phrase and we can explore together and learn the message behind them. 

Before reading this book I read the scriptures and looked at it as though I  had a race that I had to run. I  had to try my best and encourage others in their race. I needed to run as hard as possible to win, and upon crossing that finish line I would hear, "Well done, good and faithful servant."Boy was I wrong.